Joakim Noah: Let's Have 'Honest Evaluation' Of Me Now That I'm Healthy
By Cody Westerlund--
(CBS) Bulls big man Joakim Noah made a few points clear after Wednesday's practice.
He's not here to reflect on the past, and he's not worried about the future. His mind is on the present.
Two days after Bulls point guard Derrick Rose made unsolicited comments about his free agency in 2017, Noah didn't have any inclination to opine on his future with a contract that has one year left on it. He also preferred not to look back, an approach that reflected a reality and the impending uncertainty.
After being severely hampered by his left knee in 2014-'15 after offseason surgery, Noah has much to prove this year. He's aware his role may change under rookie coach Fred Hoiberg, a big believer in advanced metrics who on Monday already acknowledged the legitimacy of a question about whether it'd be best for Noah to come off the bench.
For his part, Noah just wants to show what he can do again when 100 percent, saying he now feels "bouncier, lighter on my feet" and crediting his improved health in part to yoga sessions.
"We should give it an honest evaluation while I'm healthy," Noah said when asked about his role this season. "Last year I wasn't healthy. Let's see how it goes, then coaches can make a decision from there."
Noah and fellow big man Pau Gasol weren't the optimal big man pairing for the Bulls last season, registering a 2.8 net rating (plus/minus per 100 possessions) while playing big minutes together as starters. Meanwhile, Noah-Nikola Mirotic combined for a 4.8 net rating, and Gasol-Taj Gibson had a 3.5 net rating. The offensive-minded pairing of Gasol-Mirotic had a 4.4 net rating, while the defensive-minded pairing of Noah-Gibson had a -7.4 net rating. The Gibson-Mirotic pairing had a 4.8 net rating.
The role Hoiberg gives Noah and how he fits in to the coach's new offense -- a free-flowing, read-based system that stresses floor spacing, seeks mismatches, asks big men to set of abundance of drag screens/high-ball screens and one that may at times invert the setup to put guards on the block and big men outside -- will go a long ways to determining the future Noah hasn't looked into much.
Noah is 30, with a history of foot and knee problems. He's respected around the league but in 2014-'15 was only a shade of his first-team all-NBA self of 2013-'14. That the NBA as a whole has emphasized the value of the 3-pointer and moved away from traditional two-big man lineups doesn't help Noah's case either.
It's all led to to questions about what his future holds.
"I'm just enjoying and embracing the moment," Noah said. "I'm not worried about the future. I'm not worried about the past."
Asked about Chicago specifically being in his future, Noah added, "I'm not thinking about anything."
What could be Noah's last go-round in Chicago is also an opportunity, to prove himself again to the Bulls and the rest of the league.
"I feel great," Noah said. "I worked really hard for this. I'm just really excited to be here right now, ready for camp and healthy -- proving myself.
"Good vibes in here."
Cody Westerlund is a sports editor for CBSChicago.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.